Soundwave

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Sensing the tension in the room, Aftershock backs away from both Zeta and Engrael, her antennae folding back and her tail twitching. She glances toward the space where Engrael had been working, eying the vial of Chozo blood he'd pointed out as being significant. Still, she cowers beside the table, just barely looking over the surface to watch the scene unfold.*

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Aftershock stares at Engrael, hitting the table a few times before trying to say something.*

Y...you...

*She folds her hand down and rams her arm toward the side of the counter, and two prongs on the armor panel on her arm stick into it. She looks back up at Engrael as she tries to pull her arm away.*

Back... back!

*She seems horribly restless as she finally pulls her hand away, staring at the pirate as her antennae constantly move between upright and attentive, and folded back in nervousness.*

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Aftershock continues to run through Tourian’s hallways, weaving past Pirates, going out of her way not to touch any of them. She opens one hatch and stops, finding the landscape beyond as nothing but blue growths blended with pink flesh. She freezes, the antennae on her head folding back. She turns back around, finding the pirates around her mostly just going about their business as though she were not there. She looks back outside, able to feel something beyond urging her away, and she backs up, letting the hatch close. Finally she lowers herself to the floor, curling up into a quiet ball.

After some time, she starts to look around again, watching the pirates as they work. And eventually, she attempts to make her way back to Engrael, trudging through the labyrinth of hallways trying to find where she’d come from. When she finally does make it back to the lab, she walks up to where Engrael is working, and, knowing precisely what things annoy a researcher, grabs a small flask of something and throws it at the wall.*

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Aftershock slowly backs away from Engrael and Graj on the other side of the room, backing up into the door and pressing some of her weight against it when the door subsequently opens, sending her stumbling backward out into the hallway beyond. She freezes, seeing several other armor-clad pirates staring at her. With slow movements, she gets to her feet, her tail twitching almost violently every few moments, and bolts down the hallway.*

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*As Engrael steps back into Tourian, Aftershock remains on the balcony, looking up into the sky, sending simple messages out looking for the Nemesis. She moves over to the edge, looking down at the Phazon landscape before her, but backs away, finding the drop to be unnerving and the area below hostile. She leans against a wall as she walks back into the main room, watching Engrael with a steady gaze, creeping along toward the nearest door.*

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Aftershock, seeing Graj join them, moves over toward Engrael, grabbing his arm and tugging on it somewhat. She backs away from the secretary, the antennae on her head folding back.*

*Within the Nemesis, Soundwave stands motionless at the bridge console. His hands rest on the keyboard, but he stares off into space, even as dozens of workers around him continue to repair the last of the ship’s damage. His mind is lost, scanning through a myriad of foggy memories from his corruption, and also dwelling on what possible fates might have befallen Aftershock. Upon hearing footsteps, he turns to look back at Starscream, who seems to sense his turmoil and keeps his distance as a result.*

Starscream: Were you supposed to be doing something?

*Soundwave glares at him from behind his visor.*

Starscream: You need to stop zoning out like that. Soundwave: [You need to get away from me.] Starscream: Or what?

*Soundwave lunges toward the seeker, sweeping with one arm and knocking him to one side, causing him to fall off of the bridge platform. He falls back onto the glass below, catching the attention of everyone else in the room. Soundwave, suddenly feeling suffocated by the amount of attention directed at him, strides out of the room. Starscream gets to his feet, looking around at the vehicons who still stare at him.*

Starscream: ... Well?

*Hesitantly they continue their work, and Starscream sends a brief message to Megatron.*

Starscream: Soundwave’s quickly become intolerable. Megatron: You spoke to him? Starscream: He was just standing there, not doing anything! Megatron: You’re more of a moron than I thought.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Soundwave leaps out of the way of the blast, looking over to see Aftershock startled by the sound. Not a moment later, however, Megatron runs into the room, immediately pointing his cannon toward Svychx.*

Megatron: Don’t think you can just disappear from this fight like some coward...

*A sly grin appears on his face, although Soundwave is much less anticipatory.*

Megatron: Not this time.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Without another word, a small device folds out from Soundwave’s arm and he points it at Svychx. He hesitates however, considering Aftershock remains asleep. Finally, he speaks, considering Svychx can no longer hear his thoughts. His voice is incredibly quiet, almost a whisper.*

Just... go. Leave me.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

*Soundwave steps into the room, finding Svychx floating before him. He stares silently, although terror works its way into his spark. He doesn’t speak, of course, but rather sends an alarm to the whole of the ship. He looks over next to Svychx, finding Aftershock still sleeping.*

(You’ve come for me, haven’t you...)

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Time seems to pass ever so slowly as Soundwave continues to sit beside Shockwave in the dimly lit room, asking about and listening to explanations of his current experiments. While the situation at hand is still awkward for both parties involved, it had at least become possible to distract from it, for a time. Considering, however, that these distractions become ineffective as things progress, time seems to go from being at a standstill to unrealistically fast, and thus, although it does not feel like it, it is several hours before Soundwave finds himself again sitting next to Shockwave, but this time holding a small, white form wrapped in cloth. Both remain silent, considering the strange circumstances that led to this, until finally, Shockwave lifts his gun arm and scans the tiny figure. Shockwave: Interesting. Soundwave: [What?] Shockwave: The minutia of her spark signature. It would take some time to explain. Soundwave: [Her?] The room goes silent again, and Soundwave seems to remember something. Soundwave: [I just realized... I never told Megatron where I went.] Shockwave: I am appreciative of that. Soundwave stares at the being in his hands, shielded by shining white metal and adorned with violet lights, but his aura turns very distraught all of a sudden. Soundwave: [I... can't do this.] Shockwave: Do what, exactly? Soundwave: [I can't. I... am unworthy.] Shockwave: You failed to answer my question. Soundwave: [I can't... I...] Soundwave hands the infant back to Shockwave, radiating something between panic and remorse. Shockwave, on the other hand, looks back at him with complete apathy. Shockwave: You underestimate yourself greatly. This reaction is illogical. Seemingly without a thought, as he speaks he grabs one of the child's hands and looks at it, noticing a purple light on the back similar to his own, which elicits nothing more than a tiny sound from her as she pulls it back. Shockwave: Though it is reasonable that you require some time to adjust. As do I. Soundwave: [You never seem to need to adjust to anything...] Shockwave: I have merely forgotten about this situation, considering I was unconscious for some time, and worked as dilligently as I could for the rest of that time to figure out how to retrieve you. Soundwave: [... How the hell do you forget something like that?] Shockwave: I will admit that, at times, it was deliberate. Soundwave continues to remain in something of a bubble of his own remorse, and Shockwave looks at him again. Shockwave: Go do something else. Soundwave tilts his head in questioning. Shockwave: You are sulking. Go away. Although Soundwave radiates a hint of annoyance at this, he stands up, his gaze locked on the unnamed child for a moment, before finally, albeit hesitantly, leaving the room.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Soundwave stands beside Megatron, staring at a full page of results from an analysis of Phaaze. His mind focuses so much on the information before him that he begins to lose awareness of everything around him, instead retreating into his mind. As he does so, however, the image of the planet he stares at triggers a wave of memories from there; images he sees as though from a prison, where his thoughts are meaningless and his actions controlled by something else. Something jolts him from his trance, however, and he looks over at Megatron, whose hand rests on his shoulder. Megatron: Perhaps this is too soon for you. Soundwave: [Perhaps.] Megatron looks around the room for a moment, and, finding no one else, glances back toward Soundwave. Megatron: I asked Shockwave to do a more thorough analysis of this data, but I've not heard from him in... some time. Soundwave: [Is he in isolation again?] Megatron: I presumed you would know. I did not want to disturb him if he was. Soundwave's aura matches his flustered expression as he glances away from Megatron. Megatron: Is that not unreasonable? Soundwave: [I... suppose not. But I don't know where he is. I'll find him.] Soundwave shakes his head ever so subtly, as if questioning why he must be the one to find Shockwave. Megatron smiles slightly, and his usually suppressed aura is briefly warm. Soundwave walks off, wandering through the familiar halls of the Nemesis before stepping into the lab. He looks around the room, finding it empty, and sighs before finally sending a message to Shockwave. Soundwave: [Where are you?] Shockwave: [That is of no concern.] Soundwave: [What kind of an answer is that?] Shockwave: [Not incorrect.] Soundwave: [So where are you?] There is no answer, and so Soundwave sets off again, this time heading toward Shockwave's quarters. When he approaches the door and finds it locked, he raises one hand to hit the side, creating a metallic reverberation, although the motion looks nothing like how knocking on doors usually looks. After a moment the door opens, and he steps through, finding Shockwave lying on his side on the floor, facing away from the other decepticon. He rolls onto his back to glance up at him, his aura emanating distress. Soundwave strides over to him even though the distance is short, and kneels down beside him, radiating confusion. Shockwave: I am fine. But only in a general sense. Soundwave: [... Oh god, are you..] Shockwave: Yes. Soundwave: [Already?] Shockwave: It has been a sufficiently long time. Soundwave: [I was not prepared for this.] Shockwave: Neither was I. Thus I welcome any distraction you may provide. Soundwave: [Are you in pain?] Shockwave: Of course. But that is immaterial. Soundwave: [Technically speaking, all experiences are immaterial.] Shockwave: Correct. That is why experiences have no place in objective research. Soundwave: [You're still thinking about research?] Shockwave: I am always thinking about research. If I could comfortably stand, I would be working. I do not enjoy this. I would much rather focus my attention elsewhere. You understand the sentiment, yes? After a moment, Soundwave shifts his weight to sit beside the scientist in a much more relaxed posture than before. Noticing this, Shockwave stares at him for a moment. Shockwave: You intend to stay here? Soundwave: [Do you have a problem with that?] Shockwave: ... I did not expect this, is all.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Soundwave stares into space, temporarily lost in a flurry of confusing and contradictory thoughts. Where was he, really? How would he have any notion of what is real, anyway? A sensation of something continues to prod at his wandering mind, until finally he snaps back to where he had been standing, finding Starscream standing in front of him, poking him repeatedly, and he responds by ramming his head directly into the seeker's. The silver figure stumbles back, clutching his face, before finally standing upright again. Starscream: Well at least you snapped out of it. Soundwave stares at him, aura filled with annoyance. Starscream: I, uh... was wondering if you were going to go back to archiving data again. Soundwave: [Partially. I am not terribly efficient yet.] Starscream: Thought so. Ugh. I don't know how you tolerate it. Soundwave: [Was that it?] Starscream: Y... yes. Of course. Of course, considering the length of time the seeker had stood there poking him earlier, it seemed strange that that had been his only reason for doing so. Finally Starscream starts to walk away, only to stop again. Starscream: By the way, you talked to Shockwave, right? Soundwave: [Yes.] Starscream: Thought of names yet? Soundwave flared his aura briefly, emanating something close to pure disdain, and Starscream backed away in response, finally leaving him just as Megatron walked in instead. The gladiator glanced at Starscream as he fled, but looked back toward Soundwave. Megatron: I can see some things have returned to normal. Soundwave: [Do you still want to claim the energon planet?] Megatron: ... Given our experiences with that substance and the person controlling it... Soundwave: [Because I want to kill her.] Megatron: ... Soundwave: [She ruined me.] Megatron: She did no such thing. Soundwave: [At least Unicron was all but killed after he possessed you. But Svychx is somewhere out there, no doubt continuing to manipulate people.] Megatron: She will suffer, I swear to you. But we are still reeling from the last attack. Soundwave stared at the floor as his anger began to wane, and Megatron hesitantly rested a hand on his shoulder. He seemed to search for something to say, but instead resigned himself to silence, and, in a rare show of affection, moved to embrace him instead. Megatron: Believe me when I say I know the mental torture you've endured. Soundwave relaxed slightly, letting his head rest against Megatron. Megatron: So I'll be glad to kill a god for you.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Soundwave looks up at Shockwave as Megatron leaves the room. And, although it is a subtle thing to notice, the scientist seems to avoid looking directly at him, even though his aura emanates his normal calm state.

Soundwave: [That is... an unusual reaction for him.] Shockwave: ... It is an unusual scenario... You will recall, some time before you left, I informed you that I was carrying? Soundwave: [... And I assume you’re telling me because...] Shockwave: It is the only reason I am alive. Soundwave: [So Megatron knows about this now?] Shockwave: That, and... I deemed it immoral to terminate a life that saved my own.

Soundwave says nothing, but his aura flares up in some mix of confusion and horror. Shockwave continues to look away, at least for a moment. When he does stare at Soundwave, the frightful amount of weight behind it causes him to actually back away slightly, even though this was not the desired effect.

Shockwave: I understand that this is not the most logical course of action, but it is the least objectionable one. Soundwave: [I don’t know that this is any better. I... never wanted this.] Shockwave: That is not your choice to make anymore. Soundwave: [How is this in any way logical?] Shockwave: Logic is ineffectual in matters such as these. This was a moral choice. I am only doing what I believe to be morally correct. Soundwave: [This seems so unlike you...] Shockwave: I can feel its spark.

Soundwave stares up at the scientist, suddenly distraught.

Shockwave: I am not without morals. Whether you are a part of this... being’s life in the future, is solely your choice. But I have made mine, and you will not influence that now.

Shockwave turns to leave the room, but pauses for a moment before doing so, looking back at Soundwave once more.

Shockwave: I realize... that was not the best conversation to have shortly after reawakening you from such a severe psychosis. For that I apologize.

With that, he walks out of the room, leaving Soundwave to sit there in solitude, muttering to himself a moment later.

Soundwave: So that’s where you leave me?

Even though visions of another reality continue to permeate his mind, Soundwave gets up after a moment, stepping toward the nearby computer console and starting to look through the past several month’s worth of logs.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Soundwave, still stuck in his own created world, looks out at the endless expanse of space for only a moment before turning back toward the wall. Megatron stands beside him, seeming hesitant to say anything given that he knows Shockwave is watching.

Megatron: You know... This is somewhat familiar to me.

Soundwave glances up at him, questioning what he means.

Megatron: Unicron held similar control over me at one point. Soundwave: Was this what you went through? Megatron: It was not quite this vivid. But yes.

The world begins to shift, and both look up to watch as a raging sea suddenly seems to appear beneath them. The endless expanse of space still remains, but is filled with a black, shining ocean that reflects the stars above.

Soundwave: How did you break away from it? Megatron: I had to go back to what I know I remembered.

The ocean begins to solidify, and turns into some type of silver metal floor. Megatron steps toward it, and looks toward Soundwave after a moment. He, too, stands up and steps toward the edge of their small room, looking out at the silver expanse. Finally, Soundwave jumps down the short distance to the metal floor, looking around at it.

Soundwave: But it’s hard to differentiate when everything is real to me. Megatron: But you know it isn’t.

Soundwave looks back at the gladiator, only to turn back around when the sound of shearing metal catches his attention. Some parts of the floor start to curve upward, and Soundwave steps back away from it as pieces begin to warp and distort themselves before becoming more familiar; the deck of the Nemesis, open to the false sky. Megatron looks back to find that the room where they had started had become part of it as well, and finding a door behind him.

Megatron: This is your world, after all.

Soundwave looks toward Megatron, his aura permeating the very air, turning the environment into one of gratitude.

Soundwave: Shockwave is watching, isn’t he? Megatron: I assume so.

Soundwave looks up into the sky, and his aura suddenly quieting somewhat, hiding just a trace of something only describable as admiration.

Soundwave: He asked you to do this? Megatron: Yes.

Soundwave suddenly jolts upright, finding himself in the lab of the Nemesis, and he almost reflexively removes the cable that had been attached to his head. He looks toward Shockwave, standing at the other side of the room, then over at Megatron as he begins to stir as well.

Shockwave: ... That was abrupt.

The room is silent, even as Megatron looks toward Soundwave as well.

Soundwave: [I thought I killed you.] Shockwave: As I said, your effort was sub-standard. Soundwave: [But how...]

Megatron almost immediately stands up and starts heading toward the door.

Megatron: I’ll... let you discuss that... amongst yourselves.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

As Shockwave paces around the lab again, he stops for a moment, staring at nothing as he reflexively clutches at his abdomen somewhat. It was barely noticeable, but occasionally he felt a quiet anomaly in his spark, moreso irritating than concerning, as though something was resetting every so often. He paces some more, lining up devices on the countertops in different arrangements, all to be aligned within an imperceptible margin, when he stops again. Perhaps it was not his own spark that was fluctuating. That made more sense. With a quiet sigh, Shockwave rested his arm on the counter, holding his hand to his head. Why had he even let this continue? Sure, the spark he carried had saved his life, but did an arbitrary moral obligation to a barely formed creature supersede his own desire to carry it, or lack thereof? That not a simple question, especially when the being in question had clearly grown to the point of possessing rudimentary consciousness. Shockwave briefly glanced toward Soundwave. Even though he had gotten to the point where he was comfortable admitting to himself that he was emotionally attached to Soundwave, the happenings of that relationship had caused much more anguish than was ever intended. If he could, he would have erased those events from history. Although, altering the timeline would probably do even more damage than merely putting up with what had already happened. And it would still not change the fact that he had a child now, at least in this timeline. If anything, time travel would probably start another war, if not destroy Cybertron entirely. Shockwave stared at his immaculately organized workspace, suddenly feeling more amused than anything else. It said a lot about his character that he found solace in the thought that whatever he was experiencing was not as bad as if time travel were possible.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Shockwave walks with slow, deliberate steps toward the end of the bridge platform, where Megatron and Starscream stand before him. The gladiator is turned away, still facing the broken front window, until Shockwave finally stops, remaining silent. Starscream seems to ignore him entirely, instead doing something with the main console, having finally been repaired.

Megatron: ... Yes? Shockwave: I require your... assistance. Megatron: Not the ‘unwilling test subject’ kind of assistance, is it? Shockwave: No. I have never subjected you to anything you did not agree to... Megatron: Then I might have been uninformed about what I was agreeing to.

Some of the vehicons working idly in the room look over upon hearing this exchange, but a single glance from Megatron silences their curiosity. As he and the scientist walk out of the room, however, Starscream turns to look at them for only a moment, muttering something under his breath about preferential treatment.

Megatron and Shockwave walk silently through the halls of the Nemesis, even as some of these halls still remain in disrepair. They step into an elevator, and as the doors close, Shockwave looks over toward Megatron again.

Shockwave: In truth, I am only asking for your assistance because I have somewhat lost the capability to make any... logical judgement regarding Soundwave. Megatron: Sometimes it is impossible to be impartial, and you are still the most capable of helping him. Shockwave: It is not impartiality that concerns me. I have caused him enough pain as it is.

The doors open, and the two go silent once more. As they reach the lab, however, Megatron stares at Soundwave, who once again sits on a table, looking with a blank stare into nothing.

Megatron: How am I supposed to help Soundwave? Shockwave: ... This is only a request, but I would like to patch you into his mind. Megatron: No. Shockwave freezes momentarily and looks toward Megatron, having not expected that response, or at least not that quickly. Megatron: The cortical psychic patch is not to be trifled with, and it is too antagonistic for me to use it on someone I do not hate. Shockwave: Did you not use it on Starscream? Megatron: My reasoning still stands.

The room is silent for a few moments, until Megatron looks back at Shockwave.

Megatron: ... But why are you asking this of me? Shockwave: Soundwave shows no conscious acknowledgement of any of his surroundings, but I have no reason to believe there is any neurological factor. Thus, as of now, his injuries are purely psychological, and in this state, the only way to address them is on his own domain. Megatron: Then why me?

Shockwave looks at Soundwave for a few long, silent moments.

Shockwave: You know him better than I do. And... it would not be logical for him to accept help from the person who put him in this state to begin with. Megatron: But you think it is logical to blame yourself for this? Shockwave: ... I am clearly biased.

Megatron seems to let out a quiet sigh before responding.

Megatron: Fine. Shockwave: ... Thank you.

The setup is fairly quick considering how recently the patch had been used before, and there are no other words spoken before it is used again. And following only a nod of acknowledgement, Shockwave activates it.

It takes a few moments before anything becomes clear, but soon Megatron finds himself standing on a metal platform, staring out into the night sky. Only, there is no other landscape to be found, and the sea of stars stretches endlessly before and below him. There is a ceiling, however, and as he looks back into the small room in which he seems to be standing, he finds Soundwave in one corner, sitting on the floor, seeming to place himself as far from the outside as possible, even going so far as to face slightly away from it and curl up slightly. As Megatron stares at him, however, he finally stares back. Considering the realm in which they exist, neither one necessarily needs to speak in order to make themselves understood.

Megatron: ... What are you doing? Soundwave: What am I supposed to do? This is all there is.

Megatron looks out into the starry distance for a moment before looking back at Soundwave.

Megatron: You know this is your own created world, right? Soundwave: Nothing in my mind is under my control anymore. Megatron: ... What? Soundwave: I didn’t invite you here. I didn’t create this. Megatron: Maybe not consciously. Why do you choose to stay in here? Soundwave: The endless nature of space is... troubling. There are no points of reference. No up or down, or beginning or end. Megatron: ... This isn’t like you.

It is then that Soundwave looks up at him again, radiating some trace hint of shame.

Soundwave: ... I have always been safe within the confines of my own mind, but what are you supposed to do when you’re a prisoner there too?

Megatron stares silently at him, suddenly struck by the weight of his words.

Soundwave: I have no way of knowing what’s real. I have memories that aren’t mine, thoughts from other people...

Soundwave begins to tense up, seemingly trying to fight some kind of fear.

Soundwave: I had the most clarity when I was possessed by that person, when even my actions weren’t under my control.

Megatron steps over toward Soundwave, kneeling down beside him.

Megatron: She is gone now, as is the corruption. You’re back on the Nemesis. Soundwave: Then why am I trapped here?

Megatron stares at him, and Soundwave merely looks back toward the wall, trying to avoid placing the starry expanse anywhere within his vision. This was going to take time.

[soundwaveatcybertroid]

Shockwave paced around the lab, circling Soundwave as he sat motionless, seeming to stare blankly into the distance. The scientist only stared at the floor, his aura filled with angst and fleeting traces of tired confusion. He stopped, holding up his gun arm and scanning Soundwave again despite avoiding looking at him. Was he even conscious? Was he ignoring everything intentionally? After all, there was no obvious indication that anything was wrong with Soundwave, yet he had seemed to retreat even further into his own mind than before. He was coordinated enough to balance himself, yet did not avoid any outside stimulus, even those that would cause him discomfort - except of course for any attempt to remove his visor.

Upon hearing a small beep from a nearby device, Shockwave stepped over to one side of the room and removed a long, thin canister from a centrifuge, merely staring for a moment at the layered colors of fluid inside. He turned to look at Soundwave again, his aura fading from anxiety to something of an emotional fatigue.

Shockwave: Logically there is no reason you shouldn’t be responsive... I know definitively that you can see and hear me. Yet you give no acknowledgement.

The room was silent, and Shockwave turned to face the blue figure.

Shockwave: There is no reason for this... you don’t even look at me.

His voice gradually went from being gentle to more hostile, and the hand that gripped the canister did so tightly enough to cause a crack to form in the glass.

Shockwave: Say something... Anything!

In a brief flash of anger, he swung with the canister, striking Soundwave in the side of his head, both breaking the canister and spilling its contents, but also knocking Soundwave off of the table on which he sat and throwing him to the floor. Shockwave, whose aura suddenly went silent again, merely stared for a moment at what he had done before dropping the remainder of the canister he held and backing away until he bumped into the counter behind him. Soundwave, while he had braced himself when he fell, seemed to merely remain content lying on the floor, at least for a few moments. Slowly he moved, lifting himself up off the floor, and sitting upright, at which point he froze again.

And Shockwave stared, realizing that this entire issue was psychological, meaning that Soundwave knew very well what just happened. He backed away, suddenly smothered by the presence of Soundwave’s hollow aura, and rushed out of the room, struggling yet again to process the wave of emotions that plagued him. This was why he never wanted to form any emotional attachments. It was unpleasant, and difficult to suppress, and it drove him to actions he knew he should not have committed. It was illogical. But now he carried a child he should never have kept, because of a strange attachment he should never have held, to a person who never should have become corrupted. And all of it was his fault.